Dead Reckoning_A Nantasket Novella by Robert White

Author:Robert White [White, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Preamble Publishing
Published: 2016-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

The ballroom at the Copley was crowded. A jazz quartet played in the corner. Servers carrying trays of hors d’ouvres circled from cluster to cluster, working around the long line that led to the bar. We stopped at a table near the door to get our seating cards and then made our way into the fray.

“What is this for, anyway?” I asked Lauren.

“The mayor’s summer camp out on Long Island.” Her eyes hunted the crowd. “It opened a few summers ago and needs to grow. It’s a nice program for kids from the city, gets them off the street.”

“Lauren. John.” A voice from behind sounded over the general din of the room.

We turned to see John Wallace waving us over to a group of people near the podium. We crossed the room and shook hands.

“Glad you both could make it. Have you met the mayor? Your Honor, this is Lauren Smith, one of our assistant prosecutors, and her husband John.”

“Nice to meet you both. Thank you for coming.” The mayor’s handshake was a strong, two handed double pump while his eyes looked over my shoulder. For an instant, his face registered a look of distaste. He quickly recovered and extended his hand past me with a big smile. “Councilman, glad you could make it.”

I turned to face the object of my recent internet search. Charlie Donnelly was an impressive presence, even among the beautiful people. Tall, tan and well tailored, he instantly became the center of attention. “I wouldn’t dream of missing this. You remember my sister?”

The mayor took her hand. “How goes the campaign?” He turned to Lauren and me. “Mary Ann is running her brother’s congressional campaign. Mary Ann Kerrigan, Councilman Donnelly, this is Lauren Smith, ADA, and her husband John.”

We all shook hands, said our hellos. Mary Ann studied me hard for a moment. A short woman dressed in a business suit, she had graying, shoulder length hair and no nonsense air about her. “You found the murdered fisherman out in the harbor. I heard he was your cousin. My condolences.” She paused, seeming to want to say something else. Her brother stepped in to fill the gap.

“Are you working on the case?” he asked Lauren.

“Lauren is backing up Tom Richards.” John Wallace moved into the group as the mayor turned away to greet more guests. “I’m afraid I need to steal Lauren away for a minute.” He nodded to me, “please excuse us.”

“It was nice meeting you, both of you.” Charlie Donnelly put a hand on my shoulder then headed out into the room.

I quickly found myself left alone with Mary Ann Kerrigan. “My condolences as well, I understand Jack Nolan was a friend of your brother’s.”

“An old acquaintance is more like it. Poor Jack, we all grew up together.” She took my arm and led me towards the bar. “Any idea what was going on out there?”

“I haven’t a clue,” I said. “Eddie and I weren’t that close.”

She seemed a bit surprised by this, but didn’t comment.

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